Mavericks tried to obtain Kobe Bryant in 2007

How many championship banners would be hanging in the American Airlines Center rafters had the Mavericks traded for Kobe Bryant in 2007?

That may seem like a far-fetched idea but Mavs owner Mark Cuban said Tuesday morning that it was almost a reality in the summer of 2007.

“When I was doing Dancing with the Stars, I was taking breaks because I was talking to Kobe’s agent because Kobe wanted to get traded,” Cuban explained on the Ben and Skin Show on 103.3 [KESN-FM]. “Literally, between Dancing with the Stars practices I had thought we traded for Kobe Bryant. I even talked to their owner and thought we were going to have done deal, and [Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak changed [Kobe’s] mind and brought him back.”

Not sure if the Los Angeles Lakers would’ve taken Jason Terry, Josh Howard or Jason Kidd in return but Cuban assures that Dirk Nowitzki was not in the deal.

“It wasn’t Dirk for Kobe,” Cuban said before admitting that the Lakers were smart by not letting it happen.

Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki playing on the same team in the prime of their careers? Sure sounds like the ingredients for multiple Larry O’Brien trophies.